Man, 22, dies after taking 'unknown substance' at Lost Paradise music festival

By Megan Gorrey, Sally Rawsthorne & Josh Dye

UpdatedDecember 30, 2018 — 9.27pmfirst published at 9.19am

A Brisbane man is dead and two people fell ill after they took an "unknown substance" at a music festival on the NSW Central Coast, reigniting the debate over whether pill testing should be trialled at the events.

Josh Tam, 22, was taken to Gosford Hospital from the Lost Paradise music festival at Glenworth Valley, near Gosford, about 8pm on Saturday. He died a short time later.

Josh Tam, 22, died at the weekend after falling ill at the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford, NSW.Credit:Facebook

Mr Tam was a QUT student, Marist College Ashgrove old boy and former GPS rugby player.

Tributes flowed on social media on Sunday night, as friends of Mr Tam left heart emojis and wrote supportive messages on Facebook.

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"Stick together and stay strong," one person said.

"Lost a good one. Love you brother," another person said.

About 11,000 people have attended the Lost Paradise music festival, which runs until Tuesday.

Investigations into Mr Tam's cause of death are continuing. Police said another man and a woman were treated in hospital after they took the substance.

Brisbane Water Police District Commander Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said one of Mr Tam's friends had the "unfortunate experience" of having to identify his body at the hospital.

"The best safety message is don't take drugs," he said.

Acting Superintendent Peet said revellers' "methods of secretion are becoming sophisticated" amid a heavy police presence at the event and people were not "carrying drugs in their pockets".

The latest incident follows the deaths of three young people from suspected drug overdoses at music festivals since September, reigniting debate over drug policing and pill testing schemes.

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Greens MP David Shoebridge said the death again showed why the government should reconsider its position on pill testing, which he said was needed to "reduce the unknowns".

“Both the coalition and Labor are refusing to call off the dogs and support pill testing, it is so dreadfully sad to see politics failing young people like this.''

“Young people want practical advice, real-time accurate information and a government that helps them keep safe, not one who’s only plan is to lecture and punish them."

The Berejiklian government remains stridently opposed to introducing a pill testing trial in NSW.

"I am devastated to hear another life has been lost at a music festival, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Sunday.

"I extend my deepest sympathies to the young man’s family and friends.

“There is no such thing as a safe illegal drug and I urge everyone who is attending a festival to stay safe and think carefully about the decisions they make around drugs."

A Lost Paradise spokeswoman labelled the man's death at the "drug-free" event "very distressing" on Sunday morning.

“Our sincerest thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. The matter is the subject of a police investigation and we will continue to cooperate and provide whatever assistance we can."

She said in a statement that a "great deal of planning and effort goes into ensuring the safety and welfare of our festival-goers and event staff".

"We work closely with local police to try to ensure festival-goers respect our drug free policy and NSW Ambulance to provide extensive medical support across the festival site.”